Good Morning

Now that we've got the official word on the state's staggering $5.2 billion budget deficit, it's time to go to work on solving the problem. Predictably, Republicans are calling for budget reductions with no tax increases, while the DFL is saying every possible solution should be on the table, including tax increases. You can see where this debate is headed. One idea that seems to have momentum is the idea of privatizing Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport -- a proposal floated this week by state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, and Rep. Laura Brod, R-New Prague. Chicago recently agreed to lease Midway Airport for $2.5 billion over 99 years. The city gets the money upfront. We need to learn a lot more about the Midway deal and other airport privatization efforts, but what's your initial reaction to the idea?